Over-bed table



y 5, 1941- .LB. CALDWELL OVER-BED TABLE Filed Jul 3, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2401) W ,4 TTOENES J. B. CALDWELL July 15, 19.41.

- OVER-BED TABLE 2 sheets-shea- 2 Filed July 3, 1940 Patented July 15, 1941 UN-WED STATES PATENT Q Ff'l-QE [OVER-BED 'rABrE John'Bigelow Caldwell, Bufialo, N. Y. ApplicatiomJuly- 3, 194), Serial No. 343,815

(Cl..31139l 8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in overbed tables of that typewh-ichhave a top adapted tobe supported crosswise over a-bed by upright legs or suppor-tsat the opposite ends of the table, arranged to straddle the bedso that the table can be moved or rolled on the floor over-an end of the bed to place the top in a desired position over 7 the bed. Such tables also usually include elevating means for raising. and lowering the table top to adjust it to an elevation suitable for convenient use for one or another purpose byan invalid or person occupying the bed, as for-instance, for supporting food, tableware or other articles, when eating, making ones toilet or performing other operations.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an over-bed table of this type which is of a desirable and practical, novel construction. Other full and broken lines different vertical adj-ustmentsof the table top.

Fig. 2 is a transverse, sectional plan of one end thereof, on an enlargednscale, on the plane of line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig.3 is a fragmentary plan view of the top frame =of the table, the table top being omitted.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation, similar to Fig. 1, showing a slightly modified embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional plan view of the modified construction, on line 5-5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevatiomrslightly enlarged, on line 6-5, Fig. 2, showing the elevating :means for the table top.

Fig. '7 isa broken, longitudinal, sectional elevation on an enlarged scale, on line- 7-1, Fig. I 4.

Fig. 8 is a transverse, sectional elevation on line'flil, Fig. '7.

In each oif the embodiments er the invention illustrated in the drawings; the table comprises two upright end supports erstandards disposed alt-opposite ends of the table-so tostraddlea bed, and avertically adjustable frame which carries'the table top and is provided with uprightend panels or portions which are slidable verticallyon the endstandards to-enable the frame to be adjusted by suitable screw or other-elevating or'adiusting means to place the top at different desired elevations.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. I-3 and 6, each of the two end-supports or standards comprises a horizontal base bar or member H], which is supported from th'e'fioor, preferably by swivelled casters I I, w

of any suitable type, and vertical, outer guide members l2 and an inner tube or member [3 disposed centrally between and parallel with the outer members l2. ,The vertical members l2 and I3 are rigidly secured at their lower ends by welding or otherwise to the base H3, and the base and vertical members l2 and I3 may be, and preferably are of hollow or tubular sheet metal construction, and each of the-vertical tubes I2 and l 3 may be-of the square, round or rectangular cross sectional shape shown.

The vertically adjustable frame which supports orcarries the table top, in the form illustrated,

includes a horizontal top frame having parallel side rails '14 and end rails 15 rigidly connected to the ends of the side rails. These rails may be metal channel bars, and may be rigidly connected to each other by Welding or otherwise. l6 indicates a transverse rail of angle or other form ex tending between'and rigidly connected to the side rails liintermediate of the end rails for strengthening the top frame. I 7

Vertical end panels or frame parts ll, preferably formed by sheet metal plates, are rigidly attached to and extend downwardly from the top frame at the opposite ends of the table, and each panel is provided at its inner side with outer-vertical tubulargui'de members 18, located at the opposite vertical edges of the panel, anda-central',-ventica'l "tubular member l9. Said members I8 and t9, respectively telescopically engage or are 'slidablezvertically on the outer and central members 12 and 13 ofthe upright end supports. As shown in Fig. '2, the vertical edge portions of the panelplate l'l are bent to form the outer, tubular members l8, which conform in cross sectional shape to and are adapted to surround and slidably engage the outer guide members l2 of the adjacent end support, the-edges of these bent portions being secured, as by spot welding, to the inner face of the panel plate ll. The'central tubular member l9'may consist of a metal tube which may, if desired, be welded 'or" otherwise rigidly secured on the inner side of the panel plate, said tube being of a cross sectional shape conforming to and adapted to slide on the central member l3 of the end support. Preferably the upper portions of the panel plates I! extend upwardly outside of the end bars I5 of the top frame to the top thereof, and have their top end portions (see Figs. 3 and 7), bent inwardly into abutment with the end bars I5, and the outer tubular members I8 are notched at their upper ends, as indicated at 2I in Fig. 7, to receive the top end bars I5. The end bars I5 may be welded to the contacting portions of the tubular members and the inturned top edges 20 of the panel plates to form rigid and finished connections between the top frame and the vertical ends or panels of the adjustable frame.

This adjustable frame is further stiffened and strengthened by braces 22 located in the corners between the horizontal top frame and the panel plates I? and rigidly attached thereto. Each brace 22 is preferably formed by a sheet metal plate bent into a channel form, having an inclined bottom wall 23 and parallel vertical walls 24, the outer edge portions of which straddle the central tubular member I9 and may be welded thereto. The two corner braces 22 at opposite ends of the table are preferably also connected, as by welding, to the opposite ends of a transverse tubular member 21. The space between each end of the tubular member 2] and the adjacent transverse end frame member I5 is preferably closed bythe horizontaltop wall 25 of aninverted U-shaped cover member 26. This member has spaced parallel side walls 28 which extend downwardly and overlap the side walls 24 of the braces 22. If desired, self-tapping screws 29 may be extended through the abutting walls 28 and 24 to securethe covermemberinposition. The inner ends of the top walls 25 of the cover members preferably extend over and rest upon the adjacent end portions of the tubes 21, while the outer ends of said wall portions 25 are extended beneath the lower flanges of the top frame members I5. Thus, the adjustable frame, although of comparatively light weight, is nevertheless of strong and rigid construction, and with the telescopic engagement of the tubular members with the vertical members of the end supports, it forms a firm connection between the two end supports, which results in a stable, rigid table which will stand firmly without weaving or relative angular motion of its parts, notwithstanding the wide separation and considerable height of its end supports, which are connected only by the vertically adjustable frame.

The elevating mechanism shown for adjusting the frame vertically comprises vertical screw shafts 30, one housed in the central telescoping tubular members I3 and I9 at each end of the table. Each screw shaft 30 turns in the threaded opening of a nut 3I fixed in the upper portion of the support member I3 and turns and is held from endwise movement in a suitable bearing 32 fixed in the tubular frame member I9, so that by appropriately turning the two screw shafts, the.

frame may be raised or lowered and supported in the desired position. The two screw shafts 30 may be rotated simultaneously and correspondingly by a horizontal shaft 33 extending through and adapted to rotate in suitable bearings 34 in the horizontal tube 27 of the frame and having fixed thereon bevel pinions 35 each meshing with a bevel pinion 36 fixed on the upper end of one of the screw shafts 30. At one end, the horizontal operating shaft 33 extends out through an opening 31 in the vertical end panel I! at one end of the table and may be turned by a crank or handle 38 applied to the projecting end of the shaft. The crank or handle preferably has a removable operating engagement with the end of the shaft so that it can be removed and hidden from view when not in use.

The braces 22 and the corresponding cover members 26, together form enclosures or gear boxes which enclose the opposite outer or extended ends of the shaft 33 and conceal the bevel gears 35 and 36.

Now referring to the modified construction shown in Figs. 4-8, this is similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1-3, and above described, except in the following particulars.

The vertical end panel plates Ila of the adjustable frame are of less height or shorter vertically, and the tubular members of the frame extend downwardly below the lower ends of the panels and are constructed and secured to the panels as follows: The outer tubular members I8a are formed by metal tubes separate from the panel plate, and the side edge portions 40 of each panel plate are bent first inwardly and then laterally parallel to the plate, so as to embrace each tube Ilia at three sides thereof, and the tubes maybe secured by welding in these bent embracing portions of the panel plate. In this construction also, an inner vertical plate M is provided which extends from the inner side of one outer tube I8a to the inner side of the other outer tube I8a and is provided with outbent flanges 42 which extend from the inner plate to the outer anel plateat the inner faces of the tubes I811. The corners between the body and outbent flanges 42 of the inner plate 4| abut against and are preferably welded to the inner vertical edges of the bent tube-embracing portions of the Outer panel plate Ila. This inner'plate forms an additional strengthening and. bracing connection between the tubular members I8a at the outer edges of the vertical ends of the adjustable frame and the box-like structure formed of the corner braces 22a, and the cover members 26a which are substantially similar in formation and function to the braces 22 and covers 26 formerly described. The ends of the side walls 28 of the cover members 26a in this case extend into vertical openings in the inner plates 4| and have flanges 43 at their outer vertical edges engaging the plates 4| at the outer sides thereof. This construction is particularly desirable for tables in which it may be desired, as a matter of appearance, or for other reasons, to have the end panels Ila of less height than in the construction first described.

A table top of any usual or desired material and construction may be provided and secured in any appropriate manner on top of the adjustable frame.

I claim as my invention:

1. An over-bed table comprising a horizontal top frame adapted to extend crosswise over a bed and having vertical end panels rigid with and depending from opposite ends of said horizontal frame and adapted to straddle the bed, each of said end panels comprising a metal plate having its opposite upright edge portions bent to form spaced vertical tubular guide members, separated upright end support-s at opposite ends of said frame each having a base and spaced vertical guide members rigid with and rising from said base and telescopically engaging in said tubular guide members of an end panel, said guide members of the end support being connected above the base only by said panel and means for adjusting said frame vertically on said end supports.

2. An over-bed table comprising a horizontal top frame adapted to extend crosswise over a bed and having vertical end panels rigid with and depending from opposite ends of said horizontal frame and adapted to straddle the bed, vertical tubular guide members fixed at the opposite upright edge portions of each of said end panels, each end panel comprising a metal plate having bent side edge portions embracing and secured to said tubular guide members, upright end supports at opposite ends of said frame each having a base and spaced vertical guide members rigid with and rising from said base and telescopically engaging in said tubular guide members of an end panel, and means for adjusting said frame vertically on said end supports.

3. An over-bed table comprising a horizontal top frame adapted to extend crosswise over a bed and having vertical end panels rigid with and depending from opposite ends of said horizontal frame and adapted to straddle the bed, vertical tubular guide members fixed at the opposite upright edge portions of each of said end panels, each end panel having bent side edge portions embracing and secured to said tubular guide members, inner vertical plates secured at their opposite upright edges to the bent edge portions of said end panels, upright end supports each having spaced vertical guide members rigid with and rising from a base and telescopically engaging in said tubular guide members of an end panel, and means for adjusting said frame vertically on said end supports.

4. An over-bed table comprising a horizontal top frame adapted to extend crosswise over a bed and having vertical end panels rigid withl and depending from opposite ends of said horizontal frame and adapted'to straddle the bed, vertical tubular guide members fixed at the opposite upright edge portions of each of said end panels, each end panel comprising a thin plate having bent side edge portions embracing and secured to said tubular guide members, inner vertical plates having flanges at their opposite upright edges abutting face to face against the inner sides of said tubular members and welded to the bent edge portions of said end panels, upright end supports each having spaced vertical guide members rigid with and rising from a base and telescopically engaging in said tubular guide members of an end panel, and means for adjustin said frame vertically on said end supports.

5. An over-bed table comprising a horizontal top frame adapted to extend crosswise over a bed and having vertical end panels rigid with and depending from opposite ends of said horizontal frame and adapted to straddle the bed, each of said end panels having spaced vertical tubular guide members, a horizontal tube disposed between and extending in a direction from one to the other of said end panels, corner braces each having spaced vertical side walls straddling and welded to said horizontal tube and to an adjacent tubular guide member. upright end supports each having spaced vertical guide members rigid with and rising from a base and telescopically engaging in said tubular guide members of an end panel, and means for adjusting said frame vertically on said end supports.

6. An over-bed table comprising a horizontal top frame adapted to extend crosswise over a bed and having vertical end panels rigid with and depending from opposite ends of said horizontal frame and adapted to straddle the bed, each of said end panels having vertical tubular guide members at its opposite upright edge portions, a tubular guide member intermediate of said other guide members, a horizontal tube disposed between and extending in a direction from one to the other of said end panels, inner vertical plates each secured at its upright side edges to said first tubular members of one of said end panels, a corner brace secured to each end of said horizontal tube and having spaced vertical side walls extending through an aperture in the adjacent inner vertical plate and welded to the intermediate guide member at that end of the table, upright supports each having spaced vertical guide members rigid with and rising from a base and telescopically engaging in said tubular guide members of an end panel, and means for adjusting said frame vertically on said end support.

'7. An over-bed table comprising a horizontal top frame adapted to extend crosswise over a bed and having vertical end panels rigid with and depending from opposite ends of said horizontal frame and adapted to straddle the bed, each of said end panels having vertical tubular guide members, upright end supports each having; spaced vertical guide members rigid with and rising from a base and telescopically engaging in said tubular guide members of an end panel, a horizontal tube disposed between and extending in a direction from one to the other of said end panels, corner braces each having spaced apart side walls straddling and secured to atubular guide member of an adjacent end panel, and

to an end of said horizontal tube, means housed in said central tubes and said horizontal tube for vertically adjusting said frame on said end sup-' each of said end plate panels having vertical 7 tubular guide members at its opposite upright edge portions, an intermediate vertical tubular guide member arranged between said first mentioned guide members, separated upright end supports at opposite ends of said frame each having a base and spaced vertical guide members rigid with and rising from said base and telescopically V engaging in and enclosed by said tubular guide members of an end panel, said guide members of the end support being connected above the base only by said panel, a horizontal tube disposed between and extending in a direction from one to the other of said end panels and terminating adjacent to said intermediate tubular members of said end panels, means located in said horizontal tube and in said intermediate tubular members for adjusting said frame vertically on said end supports, and corner braces connectin said top frame and said vertical panels for holding said horizontal tube and said intermed ate tubular members in correct operative relation to each other. 7

JOHN B. CALDWELL. 

